Adaptive graphical user interface for appliance

ABSTRACT

A user interface includes a touch-sensitive display and a display control unit for controlling the display. A method for controlling a household appliance using the graphical user interface includes the steps of: displaying a first graphical representation on the display, the first graphical representation including symbols, each symbol being associated with an appliance subunit of the household appliance; when a symbol is touched by a touching means, transmitting control signals from the control unit to the display to change the first graphical representation into a second graphical representation; displaying information regarding a change of a setting value of the appliance entity associated with the touched symbol when the touching means is dragged from a first position to a second position at the display; and changing the graphical representation at the display from the second graphical representation to a third graphical representation when lifting the touching means from the display.

Generally, the present invention relates to the field of graphical user interfaces. More specifically, the present invention relates to a graphical user interface comprising a touch-sensitive display for controlling a household appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Graphical user interfaces comprising a touch-sensitive display are known in prior art. Specifically, household appliances, for example hobs have been presented which show a touch-sensitive display for controlling the operation of the household appliance. A user interaction at the graphical user interface allows modifying a plurality of settings of the household appliance, for example the power provided to the appliance or an appliance subunit.

A major disadvantage of known graphical user interfaces is that said touch-sensitive displays suffer from insufficient user friendliness and low intuitive operability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the embodiments of the invention to provide a graphical user interface with an improved and user-friendly operability. The objective is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims. If not explicitly indicated otherwise, embodiments of the invention can be freely combined with each other.

According to an aspect, a method for controlling a household appliance using a graphical user interface is disclosed. The user interface comprises a touch-sensitive display and a display control unit for controlling the touch-sensitive display. Said touch-sensitive display may be any kind of touchscreen, for example, resistive, capacitive or inductive touchscreen. The display control unit might be included in the touchscreen or a separate control unit being coupled with the touch-sensitive display. The method for controlling the household appliance comprises the steps of:

-   -   displaying a first graphical representation on the         touch-sensitive display, the first graphical representation         comprising one or more symbols, each symbol associated with an         appliance subunit of the household appliance;     -   when a symbol is touched and preferably keep touched by a         touching means, transmitting control signals from the display         control unit to the touch-sensitive display in order to change         the first graphical representation into a second graphical         representation;     -   displaying information regarding a change of a setting value of         the appliance entity associated with the touched symbol when         said touching means is dragged from a first position to a second         position at the touch-sensitive display while keeping the         touch-sensitive display touched; and     -   changing the graphical representation on the touch-sensitive         display from the second graphical representation to a third         graphical representation when lifting the touching means from         the touch-sensitive display.

Said method is advantageous because a setting associated with an appliance subunit of the household appliance can be changed with a single drag user interaction on the touch-sensitive display in an intuitive and user-friendly way. Multiple touches at different locations of the touch-sensitive display are avoided.

According to embodiments, the changed setting value associated with the second position is forwarded to an appliance control unit when the finger is lifted. The appliance control unit may perform the power control of different appliance subunits, for example, heating elements of the hob. The appliance control unit may change the power or any other setting of the appliance subunit based on the setting value received by the display control unit.

According to embodiments, the first and third graphical representation comprises a plurality of symbols and the second graphical representation comprises fewer symbols than the first and third graphical representation or only the single symbol which has been touched by the user in order to change the setting value.

According to embodiments, a value range indication is displayed in the second graphical representation in order to indicate which position on the touch-sensitive display is associated with a certain setting value. In addition, the touched symbol may also comprise information regarding the setting value correlated with the actual position of the touching means. Based on the value range indication, the user gets information which position to choose in order to obtain a desired setting value. In addition, the value range indication might indicate the dragging direction of the touching means.

According to embodiments, after lifting the touching means at the second position, the graphical representation on the touch-sensitive display is changed into the third graphical representation which essentially corresponds to the first graphical representation. In other words, after lifting the touching means, the value range indication may be removed. The third graphical representation may display the chosen setting value in correlation with the symbol in order to inform the user which setting value has been chosen for the corresponding appliance subunit.

According to a second aspect, a graphical user interface for controlling household appliances is disclosed. The graphical user interface comprises a touch-sensitive display and a display control unit for controlling the touch-sensitive display. The touch-sensitive display is adapted for displaying one or more symbols associated with an appliance entity of the household appliance in a first graphical representation. The display control unit is configured to change the first graphical representation displayed by the touch-sensitive display to a second graphical representation when a symbol is touched by touching means, for example, a finger of a user. Furthermore, the touch-sensitive display is configured to display information regarding a change of a setting value of the appliance entity associated with the touched symbol when the touching means is dragged from a first position to a second position at the touch-sensitive display and the display control unit is configured to change the second graphical representation to a third graphical representation after the touching means has been lifted.

According to an embodiment of the graphical user interface, the display control unit is adapted to forward the changed setting value associated with the second position to an appliance control unit when the touching means is lifted.

According to an embodiment of the graphical user interface, the touched symbol keeps displayed at the first position when dragging the touching means.

According to an embodiment of the graphical user interface, the display control unit is adapted to drive the touch-sensitive display such that the same number of symbols are displayed in the first and third graphical representation and a reduced number of symbols or only the single touched symbol are displayed in the second graphical representation.

According to an embodiment of the graphical user interface, the display control unit is adapted to drive the touch-sensitive display such that a value range is displayed in the second graphical representation in order to indicate which position at the touch-sensitive display is associated with a certain setting value.

According to an embodiment of the graphical user interface, the display control unit is adapted to drive the touch-sensitive display such that after lifting the touching means at the second position, the chosen setting value of the appliance entity associated with the touched symbol is displayed for a limited period of time (e.g. 10 s-60 s) in association with the touched symbol.

According to a third aspect, a household appliance comprising a graphical user interface is disclosed. The graphical user interface is configured according to the embodiments described above.

The terms “essentially”, “substantially” or “approximately” as used in the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/−10%, preferably by +/−5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an example schematic view of a hob comprising a graphical user interface;

FIG. 2 shows an example block diagram of a hob; and

FIGS. 3a-3c shows an example drag-and-drop user interaction at the graphical user interface of the hob.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout the following description similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar elements, parts, items or features, when applicable.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a hob 1 comprising a plurality heating zones 2. The hob 1 may be, for example, an induction hob. It is worth mentioning, that the invention is not limited to hobs but also refers to other household appliances, for example, dish washers, baking ovens, washing machines, dryers etc. Each heating zone may comprise one or more heating elements, for example, induction coils or heating coils for electrical resistance heating.

In order to control the heating zones 2, the hob 1 comprises a user interface formed by a touch-sensitive display 3. The touch-sensitive display 3 is configured to receive a command to drive heating zones 2 from a user and to display information related to an operation of the hob 1. In general, the touch-sensitive display 3 forms an input and display unit, thereby simultaneously serving as the input unit and the display unit. That is, a user receives a current operation state of the hob 1 through various types of information displayed on the touch-sensitive display 3. In addition, a user makes contact with the touch-sensitive display 3, thereby generating a control command for controlling the hob 1, e.g. increasing or decreasing the heating power of one or more heating elements.

FIG. 2 shows an example schematic structure of the hob 1 by means of a block diagram. The touch-sensitive display 3 is coupled with a display control unit 4 which is adapted to control touch-sensitive display 3. Specifically, the display control unit 4 determines the location at which a user touches the display 3 and interprets the intended user command based on the symbols displayed on the screen and the location of the touch. Furthermore, the display control unit 4 controls the symbols and illustrations displayed at the touch-sensitive display 3, for example the arrangement of symbols, the size of the symbols and other display settings, for example display brightness. The display control unit 4 may be integrated in the control touch-sensitive display 3 or may be a discrete unit within the hob 1.

The display control unit 4 may be coupled with a hob control unit 5 which is configured for controlling the hob 1. For example, the hob control unit 5 may control the power provided to the heating elements, realize a timer function for driving one or more heating elements for a certain period of time, etc. The hob control unit 5 may be coupled with the heating elements 6 for providing electrical power to said heating elements 6 according to the settings entered at the touch-sensitive display 3. The coupling between the hob control unit 5 and the heating elements 6 may be a direct coupling or an indirect coupling via an electrical power unit or an inverter unit (in case that the heating elements 6 are induction coils).

FIGS. 3a-3c show an example gesture control of the hob 1 by a sequence of illustrations sequentially displayed at the touch-sensitive display 3. The shown example is used for controlling the power of a heating zone 2 of the hob 1. Of course, said gesture control may also be used for other control tasks, for example controlling a timer function etc.

FIG. 3a shows a first graphical representation at the touch-sensitive display 3 at the beginning of a gesture control. The touch-sensitive display 3 shows, for example, two symbols V1 and V2, wherein each symbol may be associated with a respective heating zone 2. The position of the symbols on the touch-sensitive display 3 may be correlated with the position of the respective heating zone 2 at the cocking surface of the hob 1. It is worth mentioning that the position of said symbols V1 and V2 in FIG. 3a is not correlated with any operational properties, for example the power provided to the respective heating zone correlated with the symbol.

If a user touches the touch-sensitive display 3 (by appropriate touching means, e.g. a finger or elbow) in the area at which the respective symbol V1, V2 is located, the display control unit 4 may receive information regarding the position of the touch. The display control unit 4 also has knowledge which symbol is located at the touched position. For example, the display control unit 4 comprises a memory unit for storing information regarding which symbol is located at which position/area of the touch-sensitive display 3. Thus, the display control unit 4 is able to correlate the touched position with a displayed symbol (in the present example, symbol V1).

When keep touching the symbol, the graphical representation displayed at the touch-sensitive display 3 may change into a second graphical representation displaying a control setting information (FIG. 3b ). For example, information regarding an operational property may be displayed in association with the touched symbol. In the present embodiment, power level information may be displayed. In other embodiments, other setting values, in the following also referred to as operational properties, may be displayed, for example a time span indicating the period of time keeping the heating zone correlated with the symbol powered on etc.

While keeping the symbol touched, the user may change the operational property by dragging the touching means along the touch-sensitive display 3. More in detail, the user may move the touching means from a first position to a second position different to the first one. The display control unit 4 may receive information regarding the movement of the touch position and may process operational property change information in order to display a changed operational property value at the display 3. The value change may depend on the distance between the first and second position. For example, in case that the touching means is only moved along a short distance, the value change may be small whereas the value change may be higher when the symbol is moved along a greater distance.

As shown in FIG. 3b , a value range indication 7 may be displayed on the touch-sensitive display 3. Said value range indication 7 may provide information regarding which position on the touch-sensitive display 3 is associated with a respective operational property value. In addition, the value range indication 7 may be indicative for the direction along which the symbol has to be moved in order to change the operational property value.

Furthermore, when changing the graphical representation for displaying control setting information, the number of symbols displayed at the touch-sensitive display 3 may be reduced in order to provide display space for dragging the touching means without any symbol collision. For example, the second graphical representation for displaying control setting information may only show the touched symbol, i.e. all other symbols are hidden. According to another example embodiment, in the second graphical representation only those symbols may be hidden which are arranged in an area of the display 3 in which the touching means has to be dragged in order to change the operational property value.

When dragging the touching means along the touch-sensitive display 3, the displayed value of the operational property may be immediately updated. Thereby the user is able to choose the desired value by moving the symbol along the touch-sensitive display 3. The display control unit 4 may process the dragging position of the touching means and update the displayed operational property value according to the distance along which the touching means has been moved.

After the desired operational property value is reached by upper-mentioned dragging of the touching means, the user may lift the touching means thereby stop touching the touch-sensitive display (FIG. 3c ). Thereby, the operational property value associated with the lift position may be taken over and transmitted to the hob control unit 5 in order to operate the respective heating zone 2 according to said operational property value. More in detail, the operational property value associated with the lift position may be transmitted to the hob control unit 5 and stored in a memory unit. The hob control unit 5 may adapt the operation of the respective heating zone 2 according to the received value.

After said lifting, the graphical representation at the touch-sensitive display 3 may change to a third graphical representation. Said third graphical representation may be identical or similar to the first graphical representation displayed at the beginning of the gesture control operation. Specifically, the symbols which have been removed in the second graphical representation may be displayed again. In addition, the value range indication 7 may be removed. According to preferred embodiments, the chosen operational property value may be displayed for a certain period of time in association with the touched symbol in order to provide information regarding the chosen value to the user.

The described gesture control method is advantageous because the household appliance can be controlled in a simple and user-friendly way by a single gesture, i.e. by a single drag operation.

Above, embodiments of user interface according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims have been described. These should be seen as merely non-limiting examples. As understood by a skilled person, many modifications and alternative embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 hob -   2 heating zone -   3 touch-sensitive display -   4 display control unit -   5 hob control unit -   6 heating element -   7 value range indication -   V1, V2 symbol 

The invention claimed is:
 1. Method for controlling a household appliance using a graphical user interface, the user interface comprising a touch-sensitive display and a display control unit for controlling the touch-sensitive display, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a first graphical representation on the touch-sensitive display, the first graphical representation comprising a plurality of symbols, each symbol associated with one of appliance subunits of the household appliance; when a symbol is touched by a touching means, transmitting control signals from the display control unit to the touch-sensitive display in order to change the first graphical representation into a second graphical representation in which only the touched symbol and a value range indication are displayed in the second graphical representation and one or more non-touched symbols of the plurality of symbols is hidden; displaying information regarding a change of a setting value of the appliance subunit represented by the touched symbol, when said touching means is dragged from a first position starting inside the touched symbol to a second position ending outside the touched symbol at the touch-sensitive display; and changing the graphical representation at the touch-sensitive display from the second graphical representation to a third graphical representation when lifting the touching means from the touch-sensitive display.
 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the changed setting value associated with the second position is forwarded to an appliance control unit when the touching means is lifted from the touch-sensitive display.
 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the first graphical representation and the third graphical representation comprises a plurality of symbols representing appliance subunits of the household appliance, and the second graphical representation comprises only the touched symbol among the plurality of symbols representing an appliance subunit.
 4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the value range indication is displayed in the second graphical representation in order to indicate which position at the touch-sensitive display is associated with a certain setting value.
 5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the changed setting value is displayed for a limited period of time on the touch-sensitive display in association with the touched symbol after lifting the touching means from the touch-sensitive display at the second position.
 6. Graphical user interface for controlling household appliances, the user interface comprising a touch-sensitive display and a display control unit for controlling the touch-sensitive display, the touch-sensitive display being adapted for displaying a plurality of symbols representing an appliance entity of the household appliance in a first graphical representation, the display control unit being configured to change the first graphical representation displayed by the touch-sensitive display to a second graphical representation when a symbol is touched by touching means, wherein only the touched symbol and a value range indication are displayed in the second graphical representation and one or more non-touched symbols of the plurality of symbols is hidden, the touch-sensitive display being configured to display information regarding a change of a setting value of the appliance entity represented by the touched symbol when said touching means is dragged from a first position starting inside the touched symbol to a second position ending outside the touched symbol at the touch-sensitive display and the display control unit being configured to change the second graphical representation to a third graphical representation after lifting the touching means from the touch-sensitive display.
 7. Graphical user interface according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit is adapted to forward the changed setting value associated with the second position to an appliance control unit when the touching means is lifted from the touch-sensitive display.
 8. Graphical user interface according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit is adapted to reduce the number of symbols to be displayed in the second graphical representation in comparison to the number of symbols displayed in the first graphical representation and the third graphical representation.
 9. Graphical user interface according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit is adapted to drive the touch-sensitive display such that the same number of symbols are displayed in the first and third graphical representation and the second graphical representation comprises the touched symbol among the plurality of symbols representing an appliance subunit.
 10. Graphical user interface according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit is adapted to drive the touch-sensitive display such that the value range indication is displayed in the second graphical representation in order to indicate which position at the touch-sensitive display is associated with a certain setting value.
 11. Graphical user interface according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit is adapted to drive the touch-sensitive display such that after lifting the touching means at the second position, the chosen setting value is displayed for a limited period of time on the touch-sensitive display in association with the touched symbol.
 12. Household appliance comprising a graphical user interface according to claim
 6. 13. An appliance comprising a heating zone, a touch-sensitive display, a display control unit to control the touch-sensitive display, an appliance control unit to control heating elements, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to: display a first graphical representation comprising a plurality of symbols, each symbol representing one of the heating elements; wherein the display control unit is configured to: transmit control signals to the touch-sensitive display, to change the first graphical representation into a second graphical representation, in response to a touch on a symbol by a touching means, wherein only the touched symbol and a value range indication are displayed in the second graphical representation and one or more untouched symbols of the plurality of symbols is hidden; wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to: display the value range indication for the touched symbol in the second graphical representation in order to indicate which position at the touch-sensitive display is associated with a certain setting value, is further configured to: display information regarding a change of a setting value of the heating element represented by the touched symbol when said touching means is dragged from a first position starting inside the touched symbol to a second position ending outside the touched symbol at the touch-sensitive display; and wherein the display control unit is configured to: change the graphical representation at the touch-sensitive display from the second graphical representation to a third graphical representation in response to lifting of the touching means from the touch-sensitive display, and is further configured to: forward to the appliance control unit a setting value associated with the second position in response to lifting of the touching means from the touch-sensitive display.
 14. Method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving an input to drive the appliance subunit, wherein the input comprises dragging of the touching means; generating a control command as a changed setting value to control the appliance subunit; and forwarding the changed setting value to control the appliance subunit.
 15. Graphical user interface according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit is adapted to receive an input to drive the appliance entity, wherein the input comprises dragging at the touch sensitive display, the display control unit is further adapted to generate a control command as a changed setting value to control the appliance entity, and the display control unit is further adapted to forward the changed setting value to control the appliance element.
 16. Appliance according to claim 13, wherein the display control unit is adapted to receive an input to drive the heating element, wherein the input comprises dragging at the touch sensitive display, the display control unit is further adapted to generate a control command as a changed setting value to control the heating element, and the display control unit is further adapted to forward the changed setting value to control the heating element.
 17. Method according to claim 1, wherein displaying information further comprises graphically displaying the value range indication in the dragging direction for an operational property value of the appliance subunit represented by the touched symbol.
 18. Method according to claim 1, wherein the touched symbol is displayed in the second graphical representation at the first position.
 19. Graphical user interface according to claim 6, wherein the touched symbol is steadily displayed in the second graphical representation at the first position.
 20. Appliance according to claim 13, wherein the touched symbol is steadily displayed in the second graphical representation at the first position. 